A charity dedicated to helping children suffering from cancer is set to stage its annual Midnight Dream walk next week.

The six-mile route, starting at Great Missenden Memorial Centre on Friday (June 23), will raise funds for Prestwood charity The Thomas Ball Children's Cancer Fund.

The charity was set up in 1999 by the then nine-year-old Thomas Ball who battled aggressive childhood cancer neuroblastoma, and sadly died from the disease in 2003 when the cancer returned after being in remission for three years.

Among those taking part will be a 13-year-old cancer survivor, Sophie Armitage, from Prestwood, who featured in BBC Panorama’s ‘Can You Cure My Cancer?’ in 2015 and took park in the walk last year.

The Dr Challoner’s High School pupil was diagnosed with IMFT (Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumour) at the age of nine and underwent the revolutionary treatment that helped stabilise her chest tumour at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on the programme.

Elaine Ball, chairman of the charity and Thomas’ mum, said: “June is always an emotional month for us but more so this year as it marks 14 years since we lost Thomas at the age of 14 years…

“It's a strange feeling to have known your child for the same amount of time that he has been gone.”

To take part, contact Mrs Ball on 01494 890157, email tomballcharity@aol.com or visit JNP Estate Agents in Prestwood to pick up a fundraising pack. It costs £15 to enter.

Money raised will go towards the charity’s work, including its annual EuroDisney trip for children with cancer, which Mrs Ball says is under threat due to a lack of funding.